The American Health Care Act

Last week, Congressional Republicans introduced the American Health Care Act – a giveaway to the wealthy and health insurance executives at the expense of working people. The Republican plan for health care is even worse than many expected. It will cause millions of Californians to lose lifesaving health care coverage while giving the rich a massive tax breaks – including a huge giveaway to health insurance executives. Additionally, the bill keeps the Cadillac Tax, which taxes the health plans of middle class families.The bottom line: under the AHCA, working people will be directly paying for tax cuts for the wealthy.

The Congressional Budget Office recently scored the AHCA and the results are devastating. Fourteen million Americans will lose access to health insurance almost immediately and 24 million will lose insurance over the next ten years. Deductibles and premiums will rise, and working families will be taxed on their health insurance plans.

The AHCA is expected to go to a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives soon, likely on Friday, March 24. The following week, it will move to the Senate for consideration. Republican leadership hopes to pass the bill through the Senate before the April recess (tentatively April 8-23) – but public outcry and opposition from both the left and the right is slowing the process and may push the vote until after the April recess.

Please participate in efforts to defeat this devastating legislation in the following ways:
1. Attend town hall meetings and other public events with Members of Congress and ensure they are held accountable for this bill. Public events are being compiled and publicized at www.TownHallProject.com.

2. Call House and Senate offices to make sure senators and representatives hear from working families.House: 866-829-3298 Senate: 888-865-8089

Our Representatives need to hear directly from constituents who will be hurt by this legislation! Pressure is mounting and numerous Republicans have expressed concern about the bill in recent days.

Below is a roundup of Congressional Republicans who have expressed reservations:

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): The CBO score “is a cause for alarm. It should prompt the house to slow down and reconsider certain provisions of the bill.”

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT): “We need to do better. I want to see costs and premiums go down to make health care more affordable for Montana families.”

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT): “I have some concerns with the bill. They have not been eliminated by the CBO report.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA):“It’s awful.It has to be a concern. President Trump said he wanted as many people covered as under Obamacare, and in that Washington Post article he said health care should be affordable. So if there’s truly 24 million people [losing their coverage], of course it’s a concern.”

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA): “This bill is not consistent with the repeal and replace principles for which I stand. I do not think this bill will do what is necessary for the short and long-term best interests of Virginians and, therefore, I must oppose it. I do believe that we can enact meaningful health care reforms that put the patient and health care provider back at the center of our health care system, but this bill is not the right answer